This is a pioneering service to prevent hospital admission of patients who can be more appropriately managed in the community.

Care is provided in a nursing or residential home for a period of up to 14 days.

Carehome Selection will identify the right placement for the patient, liaise with care professionals and ensure the individual’s needs are met.

Patients are assessed in the A&E and Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) to see whether they may be suitable for the admissions avoidance scheme.

Referral is then made to Carehome Selection. Our service operates seven days a week from 9am to 10pm.
Because we know the care home sector well, we are able to make appropriate placements quickly.

We liaise with the patient’s relatives, the care home and keep social services and health professionals informed.

Carehome Selection Advisers will visit the patient within 48 hours to ensure that the placement is satisfactory.

The scheme was first piloted in September 2005 and 45 hospital admissions were successfully avoided in the first three months.

The average length of placement was seven days and no patient stayed longer than 14 days. The majority return to their own home and patient satisfaction with the scheme is almost 100 per cent.

The scheme is jointly funded by Worcestershire PCTs and Social Services.